Folding carriage



Patented 1an. Si, |899.

C. S. WHITE. FULDING CARRIAGE.

(Application led Oct. 21, 1898.)

3 sums-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

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No. 618,528. Patented Janen, |899.

c. s. WHITE. f

FOLDING CARRIAGE.

(Application led Oct. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet?.

No. 6I8,528. Patented Ian. 3|, |899.

G S WHITE FOLDING CARRIAGE.

(Applxcation med Oct B1 1898) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

NITED STATES ATENT Fnicn.

FOLDING CARRIAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,528, dated January31, 1899.

Application filed October 21, 1898. Serial No. 694,171. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, CHARLES S.WHITE,a citizen of the United States,residing at James-L town, in the county of Chautauqua and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Folding Carriage and Oase, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to childrens folding carriages; andthe objects ofmy improvement are, first and mainly, to fold the gear and box flat,removing the wheels and holding all securely in a case for travelingr orshipping; second, to fold the carriage dat with wheels turned parallelto the under side of the box and so arranged that the folded carriagecan be turned sidewise and rolled along on any two of its Wheels; third,to attain these ends without the need of tools. My method ofaccomplishing these objects is shown in the accompanying specificationand drawings, in Which- Figure l is a plan View of the underside of mycarriage, showing gear. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of mycarriage folded and wheels turned parallel to the bottom of the box indotted outline. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of carriage folded as in Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of folding end of axle. Fig. 5 is a planview of folding end of axle with part of hub of wheel in place anddifferent positions of the folding axle-spindle in dotted outline. Fig.6 is a plan View of the under side of folding end of axle withaxlespindle turned and held at right angles to the axle. Fig. 7 is adetail view of face of sprin glock for corners of folding box withboxframe broken off. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view of the hingedsides of the folding box with bottom and wicker-work side broken off.Fig. 9 is a sectional detail View of the hinged ends of folding box Withthe bottomA and Wicker-work'part broken away. Fig. lO is a detail Viewof corner-lock for folding box, partly in section. Fig. 1l is aperspective view of cover or outside of case for carriage. Fig. l2 is aperspective View of inside part of carriage-case,showing spring-clampsfor holding the Wheels in position. Fig. 13 is a perspective View ofspring-clamp for holding the wheels in the case. Fig. 14 is aperspective View of partition for case.

vSimilar numerals in the several views refer t0 similar parts.

The springs 2l 21, axles 23 23, with folding spindles 39 39 39 39,reaches 24 24, and wheels 32 32 32 32 constitute the gear of thecarriage, which is secured to the underside of the carriage-box 2O byhinges 22 22 22 22. Axles 23 23vare fastened to springs 2l 21, and theadj ustable reaches 24 24 are hinged at each end 25 25 to the axles.

One adjustable reach might be used instead of two, as at 242, in dottedoutline in Fig. 2; but I find that two reaches hold the parts morefirmly. However, l sometimes use one reach and find that it serves agood purpose. I make the reach in two pieces 24' 24, (see Fig. 3,) withslot 2G in one part and thumbscrew 27 attached to the other part throughthe slot 2G to clamp the two parts together at the desired length.

Axles 23 23 are usually made with wider ends 28 28 to receive the shaft29 of the folding pinion, though the 'axle might be made large enough toserve the purpose. This end is slotted at 33 to receive the shaft 29 andthe spring 40, which spring and shaft form, with the axle, what iscommonly called a jackknife joint, the end folding around by the axle,as shown in dotted outline at 39 in Fig. 2. Shaft 29 turns on pin 43 andis made of different lengths, as shown in Fig. 3, in order that thewheels shall not interfere when turned into the position shown in Figs.2 and 3. Shaft 29 extends out at 29 over the end of spring 40 tointerlock. Upon this part 29 are raised two lugs 36 36, and lever 34 issecured between them on pin 36 and has spring 37 to hold the point 35 inslot 38 on the inside of hub 3l to lock Wheel 32 onto spindlel 39. Thisspring-lever 34 allows of the use of a blind hub, or one in which thehole does not extend through the hub, and does away with nut and wrench.Shaft 29 is held in slot 33 and against spring 40 by spring 30 when thespindles extend straight out to receive the wheels, and when the spindleis folded around at right angles to the axle spring 30 is pressed downand point 30 of said spring is pressed into notch 42, which is cut onthe under side of part 29. (See Fig. 6.) Spring 40 is held firmly inslot 33 by pins 41 4l at one end.

To fold the carriage-box, the ends 46 are hinged at 47 to the bottom 20,Fig. 8, and turn in first. The sides are made in two pieces 49 50 andhinged together at 5l and fold down over the ends. I secure the cornerswith spring-catch 52, recessed plate 54, and hooked plate 53.Spring-catch 52 is attached by screws on the inside of the corner. Plate54 is attached to the edge of end 46 and has recess 4S cut therein andin the wood behind the plate, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 7, toreceive the hooked plate 53, which is secured to the box side at theright height to enter recess 48. This locks the corner securely, yetallows of the easy opening of the corner for folding by the simplewithdrawal of the spring-catch.

The carriage-case is made with telescopin g parts 55 and hasspring-clamps 56 56 56 56 attached to the bottom of part 55. Thesespring-clamps 56 are made with two enlargements 57 58 in order toreceive and hold the rims of two wheels in each clamp, the two pairs ofclamps thus holding the four wheels so that they will not shake aboutand mar. Partition 59 is placed upon the top of these four clamps, andthe rest of the carriage is placed on this partition folded as in Figs.2 and 3, except that the spindles are folded around by the axle, asshown in dotted outline at 39 in Fig. 5. The cushions or blankets forthe carriage can then be placed on the folded carriage in the case andpart 60 secured over all by straps 61 62, after which it can be easilycarried by handle 63, since the carriage is light and can be shipped orchecked as baggage with perfect safety.

To fold my carriage, first loosen thumbscrews 27 27 and fold the springsup against the bottom of the box and secure them there by tightening thethumb-screws again. This brings the inner side or the side toward thereaches against the under side of the box, and part 28 of axle extendsdownward, and slot 33 is now vertical instead of horizontal, and thewheels can be turned under and parallel to the under side of box and areheld there by spring-points 30 in notches 42 in connection with spring40, pressing on the end of shaft 29. The box is folded down by releasingthe corner-locks, folding in the ends first and then the sides, asshown. Thus folded, the carriage can be trundled along on any two of itswheels, put aboard a streetcar, or taken up a narrow stairway, and ittakes but a moment to fold it in this shape or set it up when so folded.To fold into the least amount of space, fold as above, remove the wheelsand place in the clamps in the case, fold the pinions back, as shown at39', and place the folded carriage on the partition in the case with thecushions and blankets and close and strap the case. This places thecarriage in such shape that a railroad company cannot object to checkingit as baggage.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a folding carriage, the axles provided with folding ends orpinions, and springs for holding each folding pinion in differentpositions, said folding ends made of different lengths that the wheelsmay not interfere when turned horizontal.

2. In a folding carriage, the axles having each end slotted to receive aspring and the shaft of the folding end, a pin through each axle andshaft at different distances from the pinion end to give folding shaftsof different lengths, a spring to hold said shaft in the slot.

3. In afoldingcarriage,the pinions provided with shafts of diiferentlengths held in slots in the axles, a spring in each of said slots forcontrolling said pinion-shaft, a spring on the axle to hold said shaftin the slot, said spring on the axle formed to press into a notch in theshaft to lock the pinion.

4. In a folding carriage, the box made with hinged sides and ends forholding, a hooked plate on the box side and a recessed plate on the boxend to receive and hold said hooked plate at each corner, a spring-catchon the inside of each box-corner to hold against said plates and lockthe corner as shown and described.

5. In a folding carriage, the combination of the box sides and endshinged for folding, box-corner locks having a spring-catch to holdagainst a hooked plate, the carriage-springs hinged to the under side ofthe box, adjustable reach or reaches to fold and lock the gear, axleshaving folding ends or pinions with shafts of different lengthscontrolled by springs, a groove in the hub, and a spring-lever attachedto the gear and entering said groove to hold the wheel on the pinion.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. WIIITE. In presence of- N. E. THOMAS, R. E. STRONG.

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